Your pipes don’t get much of your attention on a daily basis. However, winter means that you’ll need to give them a little more than a passing thought.
When can you handle that maintenance on your own, and when should you call your local plumber? Here’s your quick guide to winter pipe care:
Preventing
Problems
While winter weather can really do a number on your plumbing, there are things you can do to prevent those problems.
First, always leave your water running overnight during freezing nights. Just a little drip is more than enough to protect your pipes. The water’s movement can help prevent freezing.
Second, leave cabinets where pipes exist open on these particularly cold days. This will allow the warm air from your home to circulate and hopefully prevent freezing, as well.
Lastly, you may be able to insulate your pipes as well. You can purchase insulation for pipes at most hardware and home renovation stores, but you can also use clean pool noodle toys, cut lengthwise and wrapped around your pipes.
All of these are great ways to keep water moving through your pipes and prevent those pipes from freezing. For toilets, you should flush them at least once daily during freezing spells. The key is to always keep water in motion so it never gets the chance to freeze in one place.
Getting
Help When You Need It
There is only so much you can do to prevent damage to your pipes if the weather gets truly bad. When that happens, pipes can freeze, crack, and even burst.
What should you do in those cases? Once the weather is clear enough for a specialist to drive to your home, contact your local plumbing services in Chicago. Your plumber will understand what has gone wrong and how to address it.
Don’t try to fix these problems yourself. Call in a professionals like Grayson Sewer And Drain Services and get your pipes properly repaired – and get more individual advice on how to prevent them from freezing again!
